"You told me you loved me. When I said I love you to Jared, he said it back. That was you"

"Yeah"

"And then I kissed you. I kissed you" God how could she have done something like this. Now, when she was still in love with her late husband, and of all people-

"You weren't yourself" How simple he made it seem.

"But you were, you could've stopped me"

"You wanted to believe it; I wanted you to make it through the night. I wasn't sure how hurt you were"

"I'm tough" she repeated the mantra she's always fallen back on, though even to her own ears, it was a weak argument.

"So I've heard" he never lacked his wit, did he?

"I'm sorry" she said.

"Don't be" He had to be saying this so she would feel better. How stupid was she?

"You must really think I'm an idiot"

"No, I'm just glad you're okay"

"What you did-" she started, but she couldn't manage the words to tell him how much closure he'd just given her.

"That was nothing"

And then she remembered, "When I was kissing Jared, he kissed me back" she was even more confused about her plight.

"Yeah, he did. I did" he didn't back down, though he could have.

"You kissed me" she had to repeat what she was hearing to actually believe that this was real.

"Yeah"

"Even though you knew I thought you were Jared"

"Yeah"

"Why?" she wanted to know. She needed to know. That if he kissed her that meant that she wasn't the only one with a stomach full of butterflies every time they were alone together. That she wasn't the only one dreaming of kissing him again.

"I kissed you because there's still something between us. That doesn't make it right. I know everything you've been through. I know it was wrong. I also know I can't lie about it either. I feel something for you. I always have, maybe I always will"

And there it was. Everything she'd ever wanted to hear from him. That he had always loved her, that he would always love her. Just like she knew she would always love him. Circumstances always pushed them into the worst possible situations when they figured their feelings out, but why did his confession have to come on the heels of her husband's death, on the cusp of finding her sister, and of course as he and Marty got more serious by the day. But for now, in this cabin on the mountain, even if he wouldn't say the word, she was reminded that just like her heart had never really belonged to Jared, his heart, at least the part he was willing to give, was hers. She looked into his eyes; there was no trace of deceit to be found. And moreover, he had saved her again, in more ways than she could even imagine.

Her eyes flew open. She looked around, unknowing of her surroundings, but somehow knowing it was bad.

"Damn it John" she whispered, "I don't suppose you'll save me this time"

"Unplug everything" Carl demanded.

"Brother, I make the demands around here, not you" Allison reprimanded him.

"Sister, they know about us. They're coming for us"

"Who?"

"I don't know. But they're coming. Soon"

"And how do you know"

"The government just froze all my funds. Somehow, found out where our money was coming from. They know which bank I was using to fund our project. Where we are is the next step. I wouldn't be surprised if they storm us any second"

"Unplug the twins" Allison ordered, "They're not ready. Such a shame all our hard work is gone up in flames"

"And what about Natalie?" Jeffrey said.

"Leave her" Allison said.

"What if the drugs don't work?" Jeffrey asked.

"She's the reason they're coming. When they find her they'll stop looking. It's John McBain, I know it" Allison said.

"And if she tells him our plan?"

"She doesn't know it. Don't worry. I'll take care of her" Allison said, vaguely, "Oversee the removal of the twins to another secure location, gather your things, and then we're out of here" Allison said.

Allison walked downstairs to where Natalie was kept, first gathering a new syringe full of drugs and a letter opener. She opened the door to find Natalie lying down.

"Allison! "She exclaimed, and immediately sat up, "What- How did I and you-"

Allison got closer, "it's poetic really. You tried to kill the Messenger this way" she whispered, "and this is how you die" she said, and stabbed the letter opener into her side, "You said he wouldn't come for you" Allison hissed as Natalie doubled over in pain, "This'll show you to lie to me" she injected the syringe in Natalie's arm and walked away.

"John" Natalie cried out in pain before she was knocked out.